Facing the Challenge of Climate ChangeThis is a watershed moment in our nation’s history. Today, climate change is a real and growing threat to America and the rest of the world. It’s indisputable. Climate change threatens our economy, our future progress, our health and safety, and even our way of life. Every day, the Earth suffers a little more from human neglect. We can’t wish this problem away, and pointing fingers won’t solve it, either. To his credit, President Obama understands that. We commend him for today offering a bold, decisive plan to combat climate change and to mitigate the impacts of carbon pollution. But this isn’t just the President’s legacy at stake – it’s also ours. Let’s not be remembered as the generation of Americans that could have made a difference, but didn’t.
Join us in fighting the challenge together. America’s solar energy industry is
uniquely poised to help. Today, more than 30 utility-scale, clean energy
solar projects are under construction, putting thousands of
electricians, steelworkers and laborers to work and helping to reduce
carbon emissions from power plants. These facilities, along with rooftop
solar on homes, businesses and schools, will generate electricity for
generations to come. There is now more than 8,500 megawatts
(MW) of cumulative solar electric capacity installed in the U.S. –
enough to power more than 1.3 million American homes. What’s more, in
the first quarter of 2013, more than 48 percent all new electricity
added to the grid was solar. In addition, innovative solar heating and
cooling systems are offering American consumers cost-efficient,
effective options for meeting their energy needs.
Today, solar employs nearly 120,000
Americans at more than 5,600 companies, most of which are small
businesses spread across the United States, making solar one of the
fastest growing industries in America.
Part of this amazing growth is attributed
to the fact that the cost of a solar system has dropped by nearly 40
percent over the past two years, making solar more affordable than ever.
This is our moment in time. America’s
solar energy industry stands ready to do our part to help fight climate
change and usher in a new era of clean energy in America and around the
world. Despite what some critics say, this isn’t a choice between clean
energy and a robust economy. We can have both, and solar is showing how
to make that possible Thank you for all that you do,
Rhone Resch |